Celebrating the festivals of the Kuffar is Haraam

Bismillahi Al-Rahman Al-Raheem
Celebrating the festivals of the Kuffar is Haraam

From amongst the non-Muslims the Christians celebrate the days leading up to what they believe is the birthday of 'Isa b. Maryam (peace be open them both) and the New Year. It saddens the heart of the Muslim to see the sons of the Muslims participating in the celebrations of the Christians, imitating them and showing regard to their traditions. But they neither realise the linkage of these festivals and traditions with the fabricated and misguided beliefs of the Christians nor the Sharee'ah rule regarding such participation.
The Sharee'ah has fixed the days of the Muslims' festivals, which are specific to them, and they are 'Eid ul-Fitr and 'Eid ul-Adha. An-Nasaa`i narrated from Anas that he said: "When the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two days they had carnivals and festivity. The Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: 'Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed for you two other days, which are better, the days of 'Eid ul-Fitr and 'Eid ul-Adha.'" This is a statement from the Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) stating that the Muslims have only two festivals: 'Eid ul-Fitr and 'Eid ul-Adha. These two festivals have repudiated all the festivals of Jahiliyyah. The two 'Eids are linked to the 'Aqeedah of the Muslims in terms of the Tawheed (Oneness) of Allah in worship, obedience and adherence to His commands.
As for the Christmas celebration of the Christians generally and the Westerners in particular it is a celebration emanating from their fabricated beliefs regarding 'Isa b. Maryam (peace be upon them both), and mixed with them are the ancient Hellenistic and Roman traditions. Not a single Muslim doubts their deviation or the Kufr of those who believe in such things. He (Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala) said: "Surely, disbelievers are those who said: 'Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)'" [TMQ 5: 73]. And He 'Azza wa jalla said: 'Surely, in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary).' [TMQ 5: 17]. In their celebrations the Christians decorate their homes, stores, schools and streets. They have public and private celebrations in Churches and elsewhere. They exchange gifts and sing hymns to celebrate the occasion.
The Sharee'ah has forbidden the Muslims from imitating the Kuffar Jews and Christians and others in their religions matters and symbols. Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih that Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (ra) reported that Allah's Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "'You will indeed follow the ways of those before you, hand span by hand span, and cubit by cubit even if they were to enter into a lizard's hole, you will follow them.' We asked, 'Is it the Jews and the Christians?' He (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) replied, 'Who else!'" Hence the Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) forbade us from following Jews and Christians and rebuked those who followed them in their way of life and imitated their customs, traditions and symbols. This is an explicit evidence prohibiting their imitation by the Muslims. The Sharee'ah emphasized this prohibition to the extent that it described the one who imitates them as being one of them. He (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "Whoever imitates a people, he is one of them." Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawood.
Therefore, it is not allowed for Muslims to celebrate the Kuffar's festivals such as Christmas and the New Year celebrations, which are specific to Christians. It is not allowed to participate in any way whatsoever, whether these celebrations were public or private, whether they were held in the Church, school or any other place. This includes everything linked to these occasions in terms of the their expressions and symbols, which shows that the Muslim is celebrating it, such as exchanging gifts, cards and decoration of houses and shops.
The primary reason why some Muslims copy the Westerners is the inferiority complex present in the minds of the imitators. The source of the inferiority complex is the intellectual and emotional defeatism suffered by the imitators owing to the lack of awareness of the greatness of the Islamic 'Aqeedah, its thoughts and rules and how only these will ensure justice, happiness and contentment for mankind. Similarly they do not realize the corruption of the Western culture, its values, traditions and the creed and way of life on which it is based. He (Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala) said:
"And if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'an nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship." [TMQ 20: 124]
O Muslims. In your 'Eids the lofty values and sublime meanings become manifest. So in 'Eid ul-Fitr you celebrate the end of the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of obedience and worship of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala). It is the month of giving Sadaqah and strengthening the bonds and closeness between the Muslims. It is the month of Taqwa and virtue in which the Muslims compete to do the good and pious actions. Just as they compete to stay away from what Allah has forbidden in terms of the evil and abominable actions. In your 'Eid, the values of mercy and compassion for the orphans and the needy, which Islam has encouraged, manifest themselves.
As for the blessed 'Eid of ul-Adha, it is from the Manaasik (rites) of Hajj where the Muslims rush to the sacred House of Allah to glorify Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala) and purify themselves from sins and free themselves from the Shirk. In this 'Eid we see the most sublime meanings of obedience and sacrifice in the path of Allah, where the Muslims emulate their father Ibraheem (as). Both 'Eids embody the unity of the Muslims from one corner of the earth to another despite the borders and barriers set up by the Kafir colonialists to tear up the body of the Ummah.
As for the non-Muslims' celebration of Christmas and the New Year, these embody the rotten western culture. It is the season of infidelity, drinking of alcohol, shameless parties in which the cross of Shirk with Allah is raised and the people compete in committing vile acts and chastity and virtue are trampled upon and when the greed for *** is set at liberty. In addition all spiritual, humanitarian and high moral values are wiped from the minds of people. Is there anything in this that invites a human being-any human being-to imitate and copy? Let alone a person who believes only in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala) as his Lord and in the Qur'an as the revealed book of Allah and in Islam which is a system and Message to the whole of mankind!
O Muslims; those who have charged with the responsibility of carrying the Message of Islam as guidance for the people:
Allah has blessed you with the blessing of Islam so that you apply it in all affairs of life. And He obliged you to convey the Message of Islam to save the people from the misery of the western culture and the injustice of capitalist and democratic systems. Attain success in the Dunya and Akhirah. Do not turn the Kuffar away from your deen by following their way of life, adopting their values and imitating their traditions, symbols and showing regard for them over your own. Rather you should be ambassadors for Islam and its state, the Khilafah state, which is coming soon by Allah's leave. Then you shall be happy and the people will be happy with the light and justice of Islam.
He (Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala) said:
"Thus We have made you a just (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad) be a witness over you." [TMQ 2:143].
25 Shawwal 1424 AH
18/12/2003